Furniture glider



June 2, 1953 Filed June 28, 1949 P. D. BECKER 2,640,219 FURNITURE GLIDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NvENToR: Pump D. BEcKER.

'm. 5:. PMXM A TORNEY.

June 2, 1953 P. D. BECKER 2,540,219

' FURNITURE GLIDER Filed June 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 will " II "IIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIllII/II \NvEN'r'oR:

KWCPNJM ATTORNEY.

Pruup D.- BECKER,

Patentecl June 2, 1953 UNITED PAT OFFICE- FURNITURE Philip E. lit-ether, Hingha'm, Mass assigner to Ulfifli 6311": Fastener Crpcirafitim Cambridge Mass; a; corporation of Massachusetts Application June 28, 1949, Serial No. 101,719

(CL 1M4?) 7- Claims.

The present invention relates to furniture le glidets and more particularly to furniture leg gliders acl'apted to be used with tubular metal furniture legs, and aims" generalfiy to improve the construction ancf operation of gliders such as those disclosed in my copndi flg application Se- Heretpfore, and ae ois'clos eel in my abovastate eo endt'fig a plication, tabular metal furniture leg gliders aclvantageously include a cupeltaeed is the provisionof a cushioned furniture leg glider of improved construction will permit the gli'cler' shoe to be 'di spo-see at an angle to the menitureleg.

Another object at invention is the provi'eien of a glider for the legs of chairs; and the like which will permit tilting of the ehair under load wltholl-t disturbing the flush bearing of the; glider "can the fleet;

StiH another object of the invention is the peevieion: of an: improved glider for tettlttutelegs which will permit of tighter and more tastening of the glieler' to the fumitude leg by a ratchet plate fastening.

, A further objeet- Of flfle invention is the provision of an improved glidef of simple and ecommteal menstruation which will be fully cushioned and insulated against noise The above and other aims; acltantagee of the invention will be aiiparent to personsskilled in the art to tne i iivefifiofi relates from a eotisideratlonof the accompanying" drawings and annexed s'fiecifia'fiionillustrating arm des'cribing preferrecl forms of the'lnvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. i is a side elevation oi a referred emboeiment of furniture glider according to the inverttion;

Fig". 2" is a vertical. sectional view of thegli'de r illustrated in Fig. 1 and shown lfi apiflied posttion within a ty ical metal 'filrni'fiure leg;

2: 3 is a topplan view of a ratchet plate fastaming for-the glider;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the wear plate;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the upper bail and socket member;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lower ball and socket member;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of ball andsocket joint;

Fig. e tea toppl a'rl view of the lower ball member;

Fig. 9 is a. top plan view at the upper sedke't member;

Fig. 10'' is a top plan View of a modified form of ratchet member;

Fl-g'. '11 is a cls'vseeti'enalview takenon th line N of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 isa top lan view of a modifieei form of wear plate; and

Fig. 13" le a cross seeti onalview taken on the line l3=--l-&' of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, the improved glitter eomptises a glider shoe Fe, preferably preformed and prefinlshed, assembled with; a; supporting or member at in mom-metabto metal oontaot by a ball and soeket j oln-t mg a futrtitute leg etigagl ng fastener member or ratchet plate f3 carried ley tlte H and a furniture leg=etlg agmg wear plate M surrounding the post and insulated from metal-to-metal contact with the shoe m.-

Tl-le glider shoe it may be ea? any suitable cone'ttuetiott but is ret'eralely' similar to that shown in my oo-pettdmg application serlal N 0.- 85,=68, referred to above, and is termed of sheet metal, for example sl leet steel, preformed to hollow etlp-sltape to ptovwe a fiat floor-engaging surface 25, an at-cuate-peripheral wall H; of substantially semietteul-ar eross-seetiom and an upper mwarelly firmed flange l1 surrounding-acetiopening m ot eubetantiatly' lees diameter than the body of thogliel er shoe so as; to provide an enlargee cavity having a reduced entering throat tlttotxgltthe opening" #8. The hollow ewshap'ecl glider shoe may bepreformeel many mitable manner, and pteferably lsheat-treated to increase its hatldnew and resistance to wear. It may then be coated with a suitable finish as, for example a chrome plating to improve its attractiverlss and appearance. The resulting preformed shoe is of finished shape and. contour arm provicfes' a durable attractive metal shoe high-l3; resistant to wear.

The supportifig member If comprises a tubutar poet is adapted to be dtspoeecl within a furniprovides an economical stem or shouldered supporting part for the fastening member I3.

The fastening member I3 is designed to retain the glider assembly in operative position with respect to the end of a furniture leg 28 and is secured on the post I9 to engage an inner wall 23 of the leg 23. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 through 6 the fastener I3 advantageously comprises a dish-shaped spring metal plate having a central aperture 24 to receive the post I9 and a skirt portion 25 inclined downwardly from the central aperture 24 and peripherally notched as at 26 to provide cirly toward the glider shoe as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 The skirt portion 25 is normally of slightly greater diameter than the inside diameter of the leg 20, and when forced therein is radially con- .tracte so that the biting edges 2'1 engage and grip the wall 23 of the leg 29 under tension with a ratchet-like action.

In order that the fastener 13 may grip the post I9 and be securely fixed in position thereon the central opening 24 is made somewhat smaller than the outside diameter of the post so that the edges of the material surrounding the opening will enter and engage the thread or groove 2I.

Thus, the fastener I3 is securely positioned on the post [9 and any relative movement between the post and the shoe II) tending to place the fastener under strain when the glider is under load, is compensated for by the construction here- ,inafter described.

The post or supporting member I9 is tiltably supported in and insulated from the glider shoe ID by means of the ball and socket joint 12 and discs or washers of suitable shock-absorbing and sound-deadening material, for example soft rub- I her. The ball and socket joint I2 comprises a ball portion 28 and a cooperating socket portion 29 in which the ball socket fits. The socket portion 29 has a concavely curved dish-shaped portion 30 centrally apertured at 3I to loosely receive the post I9 and having a depending annular skirt portion 32 terminating in an outwardly extending peripheral flange 33 to provide a cushion-supporting base which is preferably of a .diameter closely fitting the aperture I8 of the 1 shoe I0, permitting the flange to be inserted in the cavity of the shoe. The enlarged aperture 3-I permits lateral and/or tilting movement of the post I9 with respect to the socket 29, the .head portion 22 of the post retaining the socket in assembled relationship therewith.

The socket 29 is supported in and insulated Lfrojm the glider shoe ID by means of discs or washers of suitable shock-absorbing and sounddeadening material, for example soft rubber.

Advantageously a compressible rubber disc 34 is I provided between the floor-engaging surface I5 of the shoe and the flange 33 of the socket 29 and a compressible rubber washer 35 is provided he ress. the f an e, a h sk 32 a s #1 9,

.the shoe.

inturned flange H of the shoe I0. Both discs 34 and 35 may be of greater diameter than the flange 33 and shoe aperture I8, and preferably the disc 35 is of sufficient diameter and thickness to fill the upper portion of the shoe cavity between the flange I1 and flange 33 as shown in Fig. 2.

The ball portion 28 is preferably dish-shaped and has a convexly curved bottom portion 36 adapted to fit in the concavely curved dishshaped portion 39 of the socket 29, the area of contact between the ball and socket portions pref erably lying on a spherical surface so that the ball portion is universally movable or tiltable in the socket 29 in any desired direction. The dishshaped portion 36 ha an outwardly extending annular flange 3i at the upper end thereof and is centrally apertured as at 38 to receive the post I9. The aperture 38 is of a size such that the surrounding edges thereof engage the groove or thread 2I to secure the ball portion 28 in fixed position on the post I9. Thus, as the post I9 is tilted in any direction, the ball portion 28 accommodates itself thereto by a corresponding tilting movement in the socket 29.

The glider preferably includes a wear plate I4 and a compressible rubber washer 40 surrounding the post I9. The wear plate I4 desirably has a central dished portion M and a. substantially flat rim portion 42 to provide a bearing surface for the washer 40. The dished portion M has a central aperture 43 for receiving the post I9, the aperture 43 being somewhat larger than the post so that the post may move laterally in the opening when tilted from its vertical position. The wear plate I4 further has an annular skirt portion 44 depending from the rim 42 and a peripheral flange 45 extending outwardly from the skirt portion 44. In assembled position the flange 45 is, adapted to bear against the lower edge of the furniture leg with the skirt portion 44 disposed within and frictionally engaging the inner wall of the leg. Thus the wear plate I4 closes the lower open end of the leg 20.

The compressible rubber washer 49 is interposed between the wear plate I4 and the ball .portion 28 and thus insulates the glider against transmission of sound between these parts. It also permits fastener member I3 to be driven a maximum distance within the leg 20 and upon expansion presses downwardly on the ball portion 23, thus maintaining the post I9 under tension to provide a more secure and rattle-free installation of the glider in the furniture leg.

The preformed glider shoe I9, supporting post I9, socket portion 29 and cushioning discs 34 and 35 may be assembled into a unitary structure by any suitable means such as the punch and twopart die shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 85,698, dated April 5, 1949. This will involve the steps of (1) inserting the disc 34 into the cavity of the hollow shoe III; (2) inserting the assembled post I9 and socket portion 29 through the opening I8 into engagement with the previously inserted rubber disc 34; and (3) forcing the rubber disc 35 into the cavity of The compressible rubber washer 35, when inserted into the shoe cavity, will assume an irregular cross-sectional shape, filling the upper portion of the cavity between the flange 33 and skirt portion 32 of the socket portion 29 and the inturned flange I! of the shoe I0, thus securing the shoe I9, supporting post I9, socket 29 and rubber discs 34 and 35 in unitary assembly.

Thereafter the ball portion 28, cushioning accepts washer $0,: wear: plate M and fastenermember t3 may be" assembled on the post #9 in positions: substantially as shown in Figs. 1: and 2.-

In mounting the glider in a furniture leg or the like; the ratchet i 3 and post [9- areinserted into the leg and: forced? inwardly therein against the expansionaction ofthe skirt portion until the peripheral; flange 45 of. the wear plate l4- i's-p'osi:- tion'edi against the outer edgeportions' of the leg and. resiliently held thereagainst' by the expansive action of the' rubber Washer 40. When the fastener plate I? is: initially forced into the furniture log it is contracted. As it" expands to grip the leg and. post 19,.the post may be moved axially a short distance toward the open end' of the leg sothat the wear plate is not tightly held against the end of the leg. Use of the rubberwashe'r 40 between the wear'plaiie BQ'an-dball portion 28 provides a compressible cushion permitti'ng the ratchet 13' to be forced amaximum distance in the leg to hold the wear plate securely thereagainst. The cooperating. dish-shapes of the: wearplat'e and ball portion on opposite sides of the cushioning, distribute the rubber cushion ir'ig material uniformly around the post l9 and avoid the necessity for toolarge a cushion.

When the furniture leg? 29 is inclined to the floor at an acute angleeither in its normal position or incident to its use, the post it, fastener plate l-3, wear plate m and ball portion 28 together with the washer it will occupy substan'- tially the same positions relative thereto as shown in the vertical position of Fig.. 2. However, by virtue of the ball and socket joint [2 permitting relative movement of the ball portion 28 and socket portion 29 andiurther' by virtue of the compressible washers 34' and 35, permitting limited movement between the socket 2'9 and shoe Hl', the-shoe l-fl will be tilted out of the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to be flush with the door onwhich it rests; Thus, the improved glider construction of this invention permits the glider shoe to be disposed at an angle to the leg so that achair or other object to which it is applied may be tilted under load without disturbing the flush bearing of the glider shoe withthe floor.

In Figs. '7 to 9, I have shown a modified form of ball andsocket joint designed to permit somewhat greater tilting" movement of the post l9 and furniture leg withrespect to the shoe Hi. In this form of the invention the ball portion 55 has an annular skirt portion 51' provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange 52 similar to the skirt 32'af1dflan'ge'33 of the socket portion 29' and an upwardly extending convexly curved central portion 53 centrally apertured at 54 to loosely receive the post [9. The convexly curved portion 53 is designed to be received in the inverted dish-shaped portion 55 of the socket portion 56 which is likewise provided with a central aperture 51 to receive the post l9. .Ifhe socket portion 56 is further provided with an upwardly extending rim 58 and an outwardly extending flange 59 which together with the inverted dish-shaped portion 55 cooperate with the wear plate M to grip the compressible washer to therebetween. This form of the invention functions in a manner similar to that of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6, relative movement of the ball portion 50 and socket portion 56 permitting relative tilting movement of the shoe l0 and post 19.

In the modified form of fastener plate 6! in Figs. 10 and 11 a smaller aperture 62 adjoins the central post-receiving aperture so so that: the edges or the material surrounding the central aperture may be laterally bent to form a helical th r" d1 permits the plate M tobe threaded on the post I 5 and suitably adjusted thereon any desired position-. Theskirt portion at or the fastener plate extends outwardly downwardby from the central aperture 63 andis divided into a pruralrty' air-segments 65 by the inwa dly extending notches 6-6:. The segments 65 are m rtne'r' di'wed into; individual furniture leg-el t gaging portions 5 1 by the seinFci-r'cuIar $3 and transversel cerve'ct o a round doneshape as Shown iiil l. This provides a particularly ene'ct 1;; construction for use with square futnitu 1% legs and will securely grip the inner surfaces thereof: to anchor the glider iii pcsitier'i.

The: modified r' of wear plate Hishown Fig's'l 12 and 13 i particularly designed tor use with a square furiii r'e leg. However, the novel features thereof could be e ually well adapted for a wear late for use with roundlegs. The wear plate 10" is similar in construction to the wear plate M- previously described except that the'slcirt portion FF is scalloped to provide spaced indentations 12-.- These serve to locate the rubber' washer 4icentrally,= avoiding the necessity of a large"- washer and also to clear the" lock seams oi metal legs;

It will thus be seen that the present invention rcvides a simple and economicai glider which is; substantially noiseless and which permits the glider shoe to be disposed at an angletc the" leg that it may remain flush with the floor when the chair leg is tilted.

Various modifications of the invention de scribed and illustrated will most likely occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and may be" made withoutdeparting from the spirit or the invention, the scope of which is indicated the attached claims.

l. A furniture legglider comprising a glider shoe, cooperating ball and socket members; a supporting postextending through both of said members and having a head retained by one of said members; said I members being reiativeiy movable to permit tilting of Said post, compressibleineans" securing said one of said members saidglider slice, a wear plate" m'cvabiy positrained on saidpost and having a l ortion' thereof for engagin the lower edge of a furniture leg, a second compressible means disposed between said wear plate and the other of said" members for transmitting the load on said wear plate to said other member, and means for securing said post to a furniture leg.

2. A furniture leg glider comprising a glider shoe, cooperating ball and socket members, one of said members being anchored in said shoe, a supporting post extending through both of said members and having a head loosely retained by said one of said members, said members being relatively movable to permit tilting of said post, a wear plate mounted on said post above said ball and socket members and adapted to support the lower end of a furniture leg, and resilient compressible means mounted between said wear plate and the other of said members for transmitting the load on said wear plate to said other member and thence to said one member an said shoe.

3. A furniture leg glider comprising: a glider shoe; sheet metal ball and socket members having cooperating opposed convex and concave surfaces and centrally disposed apertures, one of said members being securedto said shoe; 2. post extending through the apertures in said members and having a head disposed behind said one member; a wear plate surrounding said post to provide supporting surfaces for engagement with the wall of the furniture leg with which the glider shoe may be used; compressible means disposed between said wear plate and the other of said members to provide a resilient support of said wear plate by said other member; and

means on said post for gripping engagement Within the interior of such a furniture leg.

4. A furniture leg glider comprising: a glider shoe; sheet metal ball and socket members having cooperating opposed convex and concave surfaces and centrally disposed apertures, one of said members having a laterally extending peripheral flange disposed within said shoe; compressible means engaging said flange and said shoe and securing said one member to said shoe; a post extending through the apertures in said members and having a head disposed behind said one member; a wear plate surrounding said post to provide supporting surfaces for engagement with the base of the furniture leg with which the glider shoe may be used; a resilient member disposed between said wear plate and the other of said members to provide a resilient support of said wear plate by said other member; and means on said post for gripping engagement within the interior of such a furniture leg.

5. A furniture leg glider comprising: a glider shoe; a sheet metal ball member secured to said shoe, said ball member providing a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface and having an aperture extending therethrough; a post extending through said aperture and provided with a head disposed within said ball member; a socket member having a concave surface in engagement with the convex surface of said ball member and an aperture through which said post extends; a wear plate surrounding said post for engagement with the end of a hollow furniture leg; a resilient compressible member disposed between said wear plate and said socket member to provide resilient support of said Wear plate by said socket member; and means on said post for engaging the interior wall of a hollow furniture leg and securing said wear plate against the end of, such. a furniture leg and said post head against the inner concave surface of said ball member.

6. A furniture leg glider comprising: a glider shoe having a base portion and an inwardly curling peripheral flange; a sheet metal ball member having a convexly curved central portion with an aperture extending. therethrough and an outwardly extending peripheral flange disposed within said glider shoe; a compressible washer member disposed between said outwardly extending flanges of said ball member and said inwardly curling flange of said shoe securing said ball member to said glider shoe; a post having a head disposed within said ball member behind said curved central portion and extending through the aperture in said ball member; a socket member having a centrally disposed concave portion in engagement with the convex portion of said ball member and an aperture through which said post extends; a wear plate surrounding said post for engagement with the end of a hollow furniture leg; a resilient compressible member disposed between said wear plate and said socket member to provide resilient support of said wear plate by said socket member; and means on said post for gripping engagement with the interior surfaces of such hollow furniture leg to secure said wear plate against the end of such furniture leg and said post head in sliding engagement against the interior surfaces of the central portion of said ball member and thereby to secure the furniture leg glider in assembly with such furniture leg.

'7. A furniture leg glider comprising a glider shoe, cooperating sheet metal ball and socket members having opposed cooperating convex and concave surfaces, said ball member being anchored in said shoe, and a supporting post extending through both of said members and having a head loosely retained by said ball memher, said members being relatively movable to permit tilting of said post, and said socket memher having a portion for bearing the load imposed by a furniture leg when the glider is attached to a furniture leg and transmitting such load through the cooperating surfaces to the glider shoe.

PHILIP D. BECKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 576,675 111 Feb. 9, 1897 1,580,781 Fitch Apr, 13, 1926 1,638,725 Chesnutt Aug. 9, 1927 1,855,844 Schacht Apr. 26, 1932 1,903,689 Schacht Apr. 11, 1933 2,010,299 Gray Aug. 6, 1935 2,233,765 Miller Apr. 15, 1941 

